Writing it down

As you think options through, I really want to underline the importance of writing it down.

Take out blank paper and engage in brainstorming. If you have questions or stray thoughts or ideas that keep spinning in your mind… it’s important to the process to engage them through or they will just keep floating in your brain interfering with productivity and focus.

So, here are some options:

sometimes when I’m trying to figure out an idea it helps to draw. I might draw circles that overlap and think about what one thing related to another would make…. sometimes it’s about relationship and sometimes it’s about proportion. often it is both.

sometimes it helps to make lists. here are some questions I ask myself and clients:

what are as many of my options (even silly or stupid ones) as I can think of?

what would someone I like and trust think or say?

what are the costs/benefits of each idea I’m considering?

what’s another perspective I could choose?

how important will this be in 5-10 years?

sometimes it helps to just to start typing or writing around the idea… no one else ever has to see what you write, but just getting the ideas out there and following where them gets you unstuck.

You see, if you only think about things or “I have it ALLLLLLL up here” is your philosophy, think again. Your brain can’t get traction on ideas and fully process them if all you do is process things internally.

To grow, change, and fully engage in exploring your options, it’s very important that you physically get them outside of yourself, so you can truly visualize, prioritize, and organize. Here are some key brainstorming options:

talking it over with a supportive friend, mentor, or coach.

drawing

free-writing

blogging

list-making

using pictures or clippings, collage with them to create a vision board

So, explore your options….using whichever tools work best for you. If you want more ideas, just ask.